Electrical connector



March 18, 1941. n. c. JONES ELECTRICAL couunqmn Filed Aug. 13, 1938 FIE E mm we M W 0 Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITEDKSTATES PATENT OFFICE' ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR David C. Jones, San Francisco, Calif. Application August 13, 1938, Serial No. 224,785 2 Claims. (Cl. 113-361) This invention relates to electrical connectors and. has for its objects the provision of simple, improved means for releasably locking together the wires in an electrical circuit and which means 5 includes male and female terminal members of generally the conventional type such as are used with electrical cord plugs or wall outlets, etc, where it is desirable to connect an electrical cord with another similar cord or with the main of 10 an electrical circuit. Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through 15 a cord plug showing my improved locking means in position looking a prong-type, plug with a socket plug, the latter being indicated in dotted line. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the socket-plug of Fig. 1. 2o Fig. 3 is an end elevational view or the prong supporting plug of Fig; 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the prong supporting plug of Fig. 1 shown connected with a wall type electrical outlet, the plate carrying the walhplug being shown in section. v

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the plate wall plate of Fig. 4 showing end of the plug as it appears in the plate opening.

In detail, referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the

30 prong carryingplug of my invention comprises a body I, which may be of any suitable electrical insulating material, such as rubber or composition material. Said body is formed with a central passageway 2 extending longitudinally thereoi for receiving therein one end of an electrical cord 3 that carrieswires 4, which wires are exposed at one end of the cord for securement toe the bindingposts of outwardly projecting prongterminals 5. i i 4o The endofthe plugadiacent the terminals 5 is recessed, as at 8 and the base I. of each terminal is secured within the recess at opposite sides of the open end of passageway 2 by screws 8. The bottom of the recess may, of course, be shaped to receive the terminal bases, which is conventional in the art. v

I A radially outwardly projecting bead 9 is formed around the outer edge of the sides of recess 6, which head is broken away at It) (Fig. 3) at-two opposite sides of thebody at points in a plane disposed at right angles to the plane in which the prongs 5 are disposed and the opposite sides of the body I in the same plane as the 55 cut-out portions III are formed with recesses H (Fig. 1) which recesses are disposed about half way between the ends of the body.

The sides of body i taper from the bead 9 toward the opposite end thereof, and straight fiat spring arms i2 are disposed longitudinally of the 5 body and over the recesses Ii, and extend past head 9 atone of their ends which ends pass through the cut-out portions ID of the head- The opposite ends of the arms are preferably turned inwardly at i3, which ends are imbedded 10 in recesses formed in opposite sides of the body I.

The ends of arms l2 projecting outwardly of the recessed end oi body I are also turned inwardly to form relatively slight hooks ll, which hooks are adapted to engage over an annular flange I! on the end of a. socket-plug it, which plug carries conventional terminal sockets adaptedto receive the prongs 5.

Covering the tapered outer sides of body is a relatively thin sheet of resilient, flexible material H, such as rubber, which sheet is cemented or vulcanized to the body. 0n the inner side of said sheet and over arms l2, the sheet I1 is preferably thickened to provide outwardly extending proiectlons ll adapted to lie over the portions of arms I! that extend across recesses H. It is, of course, obvious that the projections It may be formed integrally with the sheet II, as sh0wn,-or may be separately made and secured to' the sheet in any suitable manner.

,From the foregoing, it is seen that the arms l2 are completely covered with the exception of their outer ends. Also, itwill be seen that slight outwardly projecting protuberances will appear on the outer side of sheet I! byreason of the projections I! that lieover the spring ,arms l2.

In actual practice, the operator, desiring to connect body I with plug it, will grasp the body i between the thumb and forefinger or one hand in the usual manner, but with the thumb and 40 forefinger positioned over the protuberances caused by projections [8. Upon pressing against said protuberances, the exposed ends I! and hooks It will spread apart by reason ofthe tendency of the arm'to fulcrum at points which are between recesses II and the outer ends of the arms; Thus, when hooks l4 are'spread, they will pass over flange ii of plug l6 simultaneously with passage of prongs 5 into plug l5, and upon releasing the pressure on arms i2, the hooks I4 will engage flange ll against'withdrawal oi the body I. To release the body, the same process is followed, except that the body is pulled outward: ly of plus I.

In the event the rece iving socket is oithe wall 2 type, the wall plate 2| is formed with openings 22 at opposite sides of plug l6 which tits at one end in the central opening of the plate, the openings 22 being formed in any suitable manner, such as by pressing ears 23 out the plate to positions alongside the plug li' in which case the hooks M will engage over the free outer ends of the ears, as seen in Fig. '4. The plug I6 is carried by the plate in the usual manner, as by a metal strip 24 that extends over the inner end or said plug, the ends of the-strip being secured to the side of plate 2i. 7

In the form shown, it will be seen that the prong carrying body I presents a substantially smooth outer surface free from projections that would tend to catch on curtains, upholstery, etc. where the electrical connection is used to iorm an extension of another cord.

'The covering sheet ll may be initially formed in the general shape of a cup, and then stretched over the plug body I, after the latter is assembled, thus permitting ready removal of the covering for facilitating the repair or replacement of arms l2, and this is the preferable construction. Thus the covering sheet in itself will hold the arms i2 in position against separation from the body I.

The flange IS on the socket plug 16, is preferably forme'd integrally with said plug, but may be a ringpressed on the plug, or if desired, the outer side of the plug may merely be provided with recesses to receive the hooks l4.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In electrical connectors, an elongated body formed with a central bore extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving an electric cord, the opposite outer sides of the body being provided with a pair 01 recesses and a flat strip of spring metal extending longitudinally of the body and disposed across each recess, the strip over each recess being extended at one end outwardly of one end of said body and in engagement with the outer side of said body adjacent one end of said recess and the opposite end or each strip being out of said recess and in engagement with the other end of the body adjacent the opposite end of said recess, whereby the portion of the strip extending across the recess may be depressed into the recess thereby causing the outwardly projecting end of the strip to move radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, means at the outer ends of the outwardly projecting portions of the strips adapt ed to normally engage a plug member therebetween and to release the plug body upon said radially outward movement of the outer ends of said strips, and means securing said strips to said body. and terminal members on the body adjacent with the wires of the cord disposed within said bore.

2. In a construction as defined in claim 1, said last mentioned means including a flexible covering over the outer sides of said body extending over said recesses and over the portions of the strips disposed over said recesses whereby the strips may be depressed into said recesses by application of pressure against said covering.

DAVID C. JONES. 

